Covid-19 and Cancer

The coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a virus that most commonly infects individuals within a distance of 6 feet. It may spread through the air in droplets from bodily fluids such as coughing, sneezing, talking, etc. These droplets can remain in the air for long periods, mostly indoors, with bad ventilation systems. It spreads very easily and quickly. Protecting yourself from COVID-19 is simple. Wear a mask at all times, especially when indoors and in the company of others closer than 6 feet. You should also wash your hands before and after meals, coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose. You should also use hand sanitizer when soap/water isn’t available. Finally, monitor your health and make sure you aren’t showing any symptoms. Try and get a test whenever possible, and stay away from those who are sick.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath, muscle pain, sore throat, loss of smell and/or taste, fatigue, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and runny nose. The virus’s severe symptoms include bluish lips or face, heaviness and pain in the chest, trouble breathing, new confusion, and having a hard time waking up. If there are any prolonged symptoms or signs of severe symptoms, medical attention should be sought right away. Some cancer patients can have an increased risk of being affected by the virus due to the weakening of their immune systems from cancer and its treatments. This is especially true for patients getting Chemotherapy. It is, therefore, best to avoid public gatherings. To understand your case, it is encouraged that all cancer patients and survivors consult a doctor who is aware of their medical history and current situation. Due to the heightened virus cases, much medical care, including cancer surgeries, may be delayed. Thus, cancer patients need to talk with your healthcare team to discover their treatment options during the pandemic. Options can include oral medication, infusions at home, COVID-19 screening before appointments, and virtual appointments. Deciding on whether to get screened for cancer depends on your risk of getting a particular type of cancer, how long since your last screening, how common COVID-19 is in your community, and your age and health. If you show specific signs of cancer or have symptoms you are concerned about, contact your healthcare provider immediately to discuss what can be done, the risks and benefits of screening, or whether it can be postponed.

Do not put off medical care if you have signs of cancer, as cancer screening can save multiple lives. The risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 increases with age as well as BMI. Older people are more likely to become seriously ill than younger people. Likewise, overweight people are more likely to become seriously ill than people with a lower BMI. Having certain health conditions may also increase a person’s chances of becoming extremely ill, such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart failure, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, etc. In addition to that, anything that weakens a patient’s immune system will render them more vulnerable to COVID-19.

With the spread of COVID-19, many fallacies have arisen about the disease and its methods of transmission. One such rumor is that it can be contracted through blood transfusions. According to the Red Cross, there is no sufficient evidence to back that claim. This particular misconception has led to a multitude of canceled blood drives, creating an extreme shortage of donated blood.

There are currently no developed vaccines to fight against COVID-19 since pharmaceutical companies are still developing the vaccine. It will take some time before a developed vaccine can be distributed to the public; in the meantime, several treatments can be used to treat high-risk patients infected with the novel coronavirus.

One treatment for COVID-19 is Remdesivir (sold under the name Veklury), which works by preventing the coronavirus from further dividing in the human body. However, drawbacks to using this drug include shortening recovery time, abnormal liver, low blood pressure, sweating, and chills. This is the first treatment for COVID-19 approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Association).

Bamlanivimab, Casirivimab, and Imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies that require an IV to be injected into the bloodstream. These antibodies function to stop the coronavirus from infecting other cells by attaching to the cells infected with COVID-19.

Those who are experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, including those in need of oxygen and ventilation, can take a drug called Baricitinib. This drug functions to reduce inflammation (severe symptoms) of the coronavirus.

Other treatments include a classification of drugs called corticosteroids, Dexamethasone, and prednisone to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms. It cannot be said that corticosteroids effectively treat minor, severe symptoms of COVID-19; more research on this drug is needed to be tested to figure out whether this drug can help prevent the coronavirus. Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine are studied as a possible treatment for the coronavirus. These drugs are still tested with patients that are infected with COVID-19. Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine have severe side effects and are clinically tested for the effects’ validity and safety.